Postdoctoral Researcher - Silicon Crystal Growth

Posting Title Postdoctoral Researcher
- Silicon Crystal Growth . Location CO
- Golden . Position Type Postdoc (Fixed Term) . Hours Per Week 40 . Working at NLR NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development. Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration.

From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.

At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

This Postdoctoral Researcher position is within the High Efficiency Crystalline Photovoltaics group within the Materials Science Center  group is made up of two teams that work on Silicon and III-V materials, the latter by hydride vapor phase epitaxy. The position focuses on developing a new way to grow silicon boules using a combined float-zone technique with chemical vapor deposition. The Postdoctoral Researcher will contribute to the designing and building of a new deposition system based on CFD modeling and use the system to grow single crystal boules of silicon from a silane gas source.

This position will perform extensive characterization and analysis of the resulting materials. Primary duties involve the development of a new silicon boule float-zone system that incorporates silane chemical vapor deposition. The work will involve designing, building, and testing the crystal growth system involving vacuum hardware and chemical vapor deposition of silane gas. Duties also include characterization of the grown material for chemical purity and crystalline defects.

The Postdoctoral Researcher will be expected to present data on the project at biweekly team meetings and to project sponsors. Journal publications are expected from this work. This position is expected to work closely with a computational fluid dynamic modeling team to optimize the design of the system as well as to work closely with a technoeconomic and lifecycle team to provide needed input to their models.

NLR has a strong safety culture and the candidate is expected to adhere to and promote this culture. In addition, teamwork and collaboration define the modern scientific approach, and the Postdoctoral Researcher will be expected to collaborate, be open to new ideas, and recognize the contribution of others. The Postdoctoral Researcher will be expected to support a work environment that maximizes the unique talents and innovative ideas of every employee.

Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.

• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Ph.D. in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical or Electrical Engineering, or a related field. Experience in the growth, characterization, and/or processing of materials, and/or experience with bulk crystal growth, epitaxial growth, or growth of polycrystalline/amorphous thin films. Additional skills in metal machining, CAD drawing, system and parts design, and vacuum build and operation experience are valued. Qualified candidates must demonstrate skill in interpreting and assessing the experimental results of their own work and that of others and demonstrate a record of success from graduate and/or post-graduate work in this area.

Good interpersonal, oral and written communication skills are essential…